Nathan Walker | Development through climate justice: A strategy for the future

To achieve sustainable progress, climate justice needs to be the foundation upon which Jamaica’s development priorities stand. Climate justice recognises that political factors influence how countries address climate-related disasters.

Hurricane Melissa revealed the all-encompassing impact of such catastrophes as it negatively impacted several sectors, including agriculture, education, health, and energy. Although the damage caused by the hurricane was unprecedented, this system should not be seen as an isolated event but a harbinger of more frequent and devastating catastrophes. Consequently, investing in climate adaptation and mitigation will serve as a prudent countermeasure against these threats.

Jamaica’s path towards climate resilience must involve the championing of climate justice. This involves protecting vulnerable communities while also holding historic polluters accountable. To ensure success, any suggested solution must involve local actors such as farmers, fishermen, and other climate-vulnerable groups. For example, before a coastal mitigation strategy is implemented, consultation with communities in flood-prone areas should be done. Understanding these local contexts is essential for ensuring a proposal’s long-term success.

To enable this goal, grass-roots participation, robust governance frameworks, and transparent enforcement mechanisms should be prioritised. Importantly, there must also be coordinated efforts between public and academic bodies to address the glaring data gaps that impede our ability to ensure that solutions are both equitable and sustainable.

Despite Jamaica’s minuscule contribution to global carbon emissions, climate injustice manifests itself through the widening adaptation finance gap to developing countries. This has been exacerbated by developed countries reneging on their commitment to support a fair and collective response to the climate crisis. Therefore, Jamaica’s pursuit of climate justice must also rely on deeper regional integration. Harmonising regional climate policy while maintaining a unified voice within CARICOM helps strengthen our international influence and forge partnerships to reduce our climate vulnerabilities.

Nathan Walker is an All Souls Hugh Springer Scholar pursuing an MPhil in Development Studies at the University of Oxford. He is interested in the Caribbean’s economic development, particularly the intersection of climate change and fiscal policy.